Vol. 12 - Ch. 754 - The Defense War at the Heavenly Sandal Kingdom 6 - 3rd POV

Gandira increased the output of his «Megalon Canon», all in an attempt to blast away the Divine Golem as well the dragonkin behind them. 

The Divine Golem tried to put up resistance using the «Light Barrier» skill, but prevailed no more. Just when all hope seemed to have been lost, Meruru played his final card—he activated his divine technique «Dungeon Master Descent». A huge magic circle appeared above the sky of Heavenly Kingdom, and soon, the brightness of the sun was covered by an orichalcum golem, spanning hundreds of meters in size.

Digragni had appeared.

«Geez, I thought I was going to die from waiting alone, Meruru—woah, what the hell?!"

«Dungeon Master has appeared... Target it.»

Just as Digragni glides across the sky, the two jets behind his back guiding the movement, Gandira commands the demons to shift their target on Digragni. He also hurled some spells, while he continued to fire his cannon on other hand. 

Digragni zig-zagged across the sky, rapidly changing the trajectory to dodge the attack from demons, and eventually appeared just right above Divine Golem. 

"Let's begin the fusion then! Due to divine technique, the effect's going to be even stronger."

To provide more chances, Allen had already gone through other negotiations when they arrived at the Divine Realm. The divine technique «Dungeon Master Descent» allowed Digragni to cover the exterior of Tam-Tam like an exoskeleton, greatly increasing Tam-Tam's stats and power.

Meruru and Tam-Tam had learned of the details through Magic Cube, but this would be the first time they activate it.

"...I-I am sure it's going to be alright. Initiate signal relay to Dungeon Master."

Meruru replied, facing the pressure from Admiral Galara and commanded the Torso Unit—they're the one who maintained golem's fusion integrity. Though they also had the perplexed expression, Torso Unit followed the command. 

*Metallic Scratching Sound* 

Within a moment, Digragni's transformation began to take place, shaping itself into dual canon armament in "コ" shape. Then, it gently lowered on the Divine Golem, and fused around their shoulder. With the connection relay, the connection was promptly established.

«Dungeon Master Digragni has appeared, seemingly to fight. The success rate of the mission falls to 50%.»

Gandira sharpened his vigilance when he confirmed the situation.

—[Effect of Divine Technique «Dungeon Master Descent - Digragni ON»]

1. Can perform fusion with available golem.

2. Can deploy Small Canon (up to 16)/Intermediate Canon (Up to 8)/Advanced Canon(up to 4)/Hyper Canon (up to 2)/Ultimate Canon (up to 1).

3. Increase overall stats by 100,000

4. The effect lasts for one hour.

5. The transformation shape may change at the discretion at the command of user.

※While Dungeon Master's Divine Name is «Labrynith God», the name may appear as «Dungeon Master».

"N-noooo... the mana consumption rate has spiked up!"

The golem had gained newfound strength in the shape of 100,000 stats, and the «Light Barrier» also had stabilised. But, overlapping one divine skill (Dungeon Master Descent) over another divine skill (Super Divine Soldier) had caused an overload.

—*Spark-Crackle*

Sparks and mechanical creaking echoed emerged from all over the Divine Golem, to be precise, the joints where each golem had fused. 

"It's over! There's no way we can control this load!"

«T-the situation seems steep... We must make a swift end to the battle.»

The feeble complaints rose up from Torso Unit, with Tam-Tam affirming the situation.

Generally speaking, there were quite a lot of ways to increase the might of skill and divine technique; they could range from buff to support magic or support skill which could grant one an edge by increasing the stats, critical hit chances. There was also changing the element to one that's more effective against the opponent, as well as using debuffs to lower the target's defense and stats.

Limited not to buffs and debuffs, there also exists «Combination Technique». 

Like Formar, whose «True Smite» increased the power of subsequent skill or divine technique. Then there was Hero Helmios's «Martial Peak», which had the same effect as «True Smite» but lasted for a good duration, as well as the power increase was more than significant.

Meruru had done the same, and since both of them were divine techniques, the strength gained from it was tremendous. 

But, nothing was without its drawbacks. «True Smite» restricts the frequency of attack Format could've used for its duration. Helmios's skill demanded an extreme adversary to cross through, and an acute sense to gauze out the correct timing for its usage.

The overlapping effect of two divine skills had put a tremendous burden on 25 dwarves, their consciousness hovering at the edge of blacking out. Digragni, however, seemed oblivious to the tragic situation.

«Hey, at least give an explanation of what's going on! I can't believe I am here when Magic God is caught up in trouble!!»

"The rest can go to hell, we ought to do something about the current situation!"

«The hell did you say, Meruru! What do you mean 'they can go to hell', damn you!!»

When nothing was going around, Digragni's true body would be at the S-rank dungeon back on the surface, having ascended from the Demigod to God through the faith points Meruru provided. 

As a matter of fact, he had been hanging around Divine Realm for quite a while. Initially, he had rushed through the Dungeon Passage situated at Magic God's research laboratory to rescue her, but due to the lack of authority, and absence of permission from Magic God, he had been wandering, helplessly watching over the situation unfolding. 

"Come on, Digragni! The sooner we finish here, the earlier we can start with your rescue mission!"

Meruru shut the grumbling and dissatisfaction of Digragni. The cockpit had been echoing with the complaints non-stop. 

«......You're right. Let's show the gaudy golden bastard all that shine isn't gold. I am firing Magic Canon!!»

In the end, Digragni channeled all his resentment and annoyance toward Gandira. Gradually, the mana began to charge up the 100m long cannon attached to the Divine Golem's shoulders. And this time, the mana was not only consumed from the Divine Golem, or the Right-Hand Unit alone, but—

"Argh! W-why is our mana being used too?!"

The mana was being extracted from every single member. The mana leaked out of the dwarves, filling up the cockpit, and gradually absorbed into the Divine Golem. Then the charge channeled into the two canons—Hyper Canon Mode—on the shoulder. 

Meruru hurriedly fiddled with the touch interface, and set the aim as it appeared on screen.

"Here I go! Magic Canon Blast!!"

«Go to hell for meeeeeeeeeeeee!!»

Digragni followed the aim Meruru set up, and activated the Hyper Magic Canon, shooting it at Gandira. 

The super-ionized beam escaped from the barrier of Dirgrani's canon, and cut through Gandira's Megalon Canon like a hot knife cutting through butter, closing up to him.

«Use of 1st Mana Strongbox confirmed. Starting with 2nd Mana Strongbox. Megalon Canon Output set to 100%!»

Gandira undone the fusion as 1st Mana Strongbox was used up, and it fell down from his left hand, toning down his frame weight. Within a moment, he switched to 2nd Mana Strongbox, and increased the output of his canon to maximum. A tremendous power surged from the Megalon Canon, increasing the plasma beam's intensity by a mile.

«Gaahhh!?»

«RARRH!?»

The contest between the two super-charged canons left the surrounding boiling. The archdemons had been flanked around both golems, and the aftermath left them burnt. 

Perhaps because neither had emotionality running between them, they disregarded everything—whether it was foe or friend—and channeled all their attention on the present threat. 

"Wha—» Garrrr!?"

"H-hey, Meruru. We're being pushed away. Come on, now that's the time to show your unyielding spirit!"

«W-what will I even do of unyielding spirit... We need mana, we don't have enough of it.»

With Digragni's help, the approaching plasma beam had been pushed back, almost to the halfway point between two giant golems. However, it was only for a brief moment before the opponent's Megalon Cannon began to climb up its momentum once again.

Tam-Tam retorted back at Admiral Galara's pep talk. Digragni revealed their problem.

«I know what to do. All of you, put your soul into it if you don't want to become fried chicken!!»

Suddenly, the two canon on Divine Golem's shoulder began to transform, and relocated to the top of Head Unit, combining to form a single Ultimate Canon. 

To the dwarves though, as soon as they all channeled their mana toward the cannon's barrel, they felt a discomfort. They felt a weightlessness like sensation washing over them, as if their souls were trying to leave their body, bringing a pain all over their body.

"Gaaahhhh!!"

"Arrraghhh!!"

«Ugh, D-Digragni-sama... rgh!!?»

The Ultimate Canon demanded not only mana, but even their spiritual power and stamina to their very last drop. When everything of value had been squeezed dry did the Ultimate Canon fired off.

«Disappear for meeee!!»

"...Fireee!!"

The ground trembled beneath at the explosive yell of Digragni. Meruru barely held himself, and tapped the "Fire" button displaying on the touch panel. A canon blast of terrific power, more than anything they'd until now, shot from canon.

The high-intensity beam promptly vaporised any demon or archdemon that stood in the way, and chased up to Gandira. This time, it had overpower even the plasma cannon at 100% of Gandir. 

It first made its impact on the 100m long cannon  on its shoulder, then soon engulfed the shoulder, the neck, and even the head in itself, melting them. The damaged left arm made a thud sound as it fell down. 

There was no stopping the cannon blast as it continued on its way, and disappeared in the horizon beyond. 

«Heavy damage detected. Requesting power pod urgently.... Dispatch the power pod......»

At last, the combined might of 25 dwarves, Tam-Tam, Digragni, and two divine techniques had dealt the grave damage to Gandira to the point of incapacitating him from the battle.

Perhaps he had spent every bit of his power as now it knelt, the red light on his chest blinking rapidly, seeking support for additional unit.

But Divine Golem wasn't faring any better. The consequence of ignoring the damage to stay on the path of counterattack was a burden too heavy for it, and—

*Spark* *Creak*

The annihilating blast had drastically shortened the fusion duration of divine technique «Dungeon Master Descent».

"T-the fusion is coming off..."

The burden was immediately imminent on Torso Unit who was in-charge of securing the connection between golem's various parts, and the Head Unit where Digragni was attacked. As soon as the weight of Ultimate Canon transmitted to them, all the twenty-five golems and Digragni came apart.

"Ah damn it, we were so close... Tam-Tam, can you still continue?!"

«I would be requiring the change of stone slab for the main body, but yes.»

Fortunately, Meruru had recovered his entire mana and stamina following the Heaven's Blessing,  and granted the golems enough timeframe to change their slates, preparing themselves to fight again. 

They might have put a stop to Gandira, but neither he or Bask had gone down at all. Meanwhile, the damage to the demon's army only stopped at 20%. The enemy would never stop unless they rout them completely. 

The immediate action in the aftermath was first taken by Merus, having overlooked the entire sequence. He brought in the use of «Transmission» skill of Bird F, and commanded the situation, his loud voice reaching everyone.

«Reinforcement is ready to act on. Starting now, the long-range attack would ensue, so keep your head down, Meruru.»

"Huh, ready? What're we talking about??"

It was the strategy Merus had been drawing behind the situation.

«Now that giant is down, it's our prime chance to double down on enemies. Dogora and others, take care of Bask. I need to retreat for our next act!!»

"Wha—? H-hey, Merus, come now!!"

Then, regardless if others had anything to say, Merus teleported away after dropping his words. A perplexed voice ensued from Dogora and the other members, having nil inkling to what Merus was even planning, as they fought Bask. 

«Hey, now, where did Merus-chan lea.... the heck?»

Bask tried to taunt his opponent, noticing Merus's disappearance, but he wasn't able to finish his words when Merus reappeared. 

"Woah. Hoooooly smoke!! There are so many dragonkins!!"

Meruru gasped as he witnessed the horde of dragonkin—at a rough glance, there had to be tens of thousands of them—through Tam-Tam's screen. 

As a matter of fact, the dragonkins had still been hunting for the Spirit Beasts in the Forest of Primordial Beasts to this day, using the three strongholds Allen's team had created as their base. 

They're the reinforcement Merus had spoken of, having contacted them to prepare for the battle. The strongholds were also registered among the «Nest» location of Bird A. A stronghold held nearly 20,000 of dragonkins, and each of them held the Extra Skill Throw, something they'd learned to target their opponents from the top of the fortress. 

«Avoid the dragonkins, and golems, and set your target on demons!!»

Merus commanded the dragonkins at the rearguard, confirming the situation, and released his command to attack.

"Repel the invaders of Heavenly Kingdom!!"

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

"Takeeeeeeeeee iiiiit!!"

The ground trembled at the chorus of dragonkin's shout when their leader hollered, cueing the start of assault. In a mere moment, the place was crowded with ranged attacks. 

"Ooooh, you all are here!!"

Abigail, who had been fighting at the frontline, raised a voice of delight when he noticed the ranged attack flying overhead. 

T/N - Due to circumstances, we'd to drop the novel. We will be unlocking the remaining chapters everyday (except Sunday!). Also, if you prefer dungeon genre x light-hearted story, try out LET ME SPEND MONEY, DAMMIT!